According to Paul Lukas, the Tampa Bay Rays will wear Tampa Smokers throwback uniforms later this season. The Smokers were a minor league team in the Florida State League (1919-1930) and the Florida International League (1946-1954).

This is the second consecutive season that the Rays will feature a throwback uniform for a Tampa-based team. Last year, the Rays wore the uniforms of the Tampa Tarpons. We would like to think that this means nothing. But many fans will take this as a symbolic gesture that the Rays would prefer to be in Tampa.

The Rays also wore Tarpon uniforms in 1999 and 2006. Other “Turn Back the Clock” games have included the uniforms of the St. Pete Saints (2000, 2007), the University of Tampa (2005), the St. Pete Pelicans (2008) and the original Devil Rays (2009).

I don't think it's as much as statement of where they want to play as it is a statement that they want to represent, and be supported by, the whole region. They are the Tampa Bay Rays, not the St. Petersburg Rays.

And....what HAPPENED to all these teams from TAMPA...did they go out of business??.....How about moving The Rays maybe they could meet the same fate.....DOn't worry Tampa will never be "defined" as STPETERSBURG..100% of pinellas residents will attest to that....

Those jerseys are awesome. Head shops everywhere are going to sell them by the hundreds. Don't be surprised to see them mixed with Phillies hats (for Phillie Blunts). Don't tell me I'm the only one who thought about the potheads when I saw these. I'd wear one every April 20th and to every Cheech and Chong concert.